Broadhead arrow adapter

ABSTRACT

An Archery Manufacturers &amp; Merchants Organization (AMO) standards-based, arrow assembly, weight-and-length enhancer for archers and/or bowhunters is disclosed, which provides a fully compatible, standards-based way to increase the length and/or weight of the front of the arrow assembly by simply unscrewing the existing arrowhead from the insert of the arrow and screwing this enhancer between the two components. By having internal threads on the device located directly within the outer shank area of the enhancer, the strength is increased due to a decrease in leverage, and the overall length of the assembly is kept to a minimum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/015,300, filed on Dec. 20, 2007. The entire disclosure of the aboveapplication is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an arrow weight-and-lengthbooster and, more specifically, it relates to an Archery Manufacturers &Merchants Organization (AMO) standards-based, arrow-assembly,weight-and-length enhancer for archers and/or bowhunters, which providesa fully compatible, standards-based way to increase the length and/orweight of the front of the arrow assembly by simply unscrewing theexisting arrowhead from the insert of the arrow and screwing thisbooster insert between the two components. By having internal threads onthe device located directly within the outer shank area of the insert,the strength is increased due to a decrease in leverage, and the overalllength of the assembly is kept to a minimum.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

It can be appreciated that arrow weight-and-length altering techniqueshave been in use for years. Typically these are comprised ofspecialized, as well as proprietary, assemblies and/or components toalter length and/or weight as seen in the following patents: U.S. Pat.No. 4,050,696, issued to Troncoso; U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,554, issued toSherwin; U.S. Pat. No. 4,405,133, issued to Cartwright; U.S. Pat. No.4,533,146, issued to Schaar; U.S. Pat. No. 4,874,180, issued toFingerson; U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,520, issued to Fingerson; U.S. Pat. No.5,269,534, issued to Saunders; U.S. Pat. No. 5,269,534, issued toRangel; U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,542, issued to Saunders; U.S. Pat. No.5,902,199, issued to Adams; U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,421, issued to Adams;U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,725, issued to Schaar; U.S. Pat. No. 6,558,280,issued to Kuhn; U.S. Pat. No. 6,623,385, issued to Cole; and U.S. Pat.Nos. 6,932,728, 7,004,859, 7,077,770, and 7,115,055, issued to Palomaki.

The main problem with conventional arrow weight-and-length boosters isthey do not provide a standards-based—screw directly in-between theexisting insert and the arrowhead—means of adding weight or length tothe front of an arrow shaft fitted with a standard AMO specificationinsert. AMO defined these standards in 1986 (now part of the ATA(Archery Trade Association)).

A further disadvantage with conventional arrow weight-and-lengthboosters is they do not provide a standards based—screw directlyin-between the existing insert and the arrowhead—means of transitioningdifferent diameters of arrowheads, broadheads, and target tip basediameters to match varying arrow shaft diameters via a tapering design,which would not only increase downrange kinetic energy, but also reduceparasitic aerodynamic drag.

A further problem with conventional arrow weight-and-length boosters isthey cannot be stacked on top of one another as well as they requirespecial proprietary non-standard attachments and/or internal insertsthat may or may not require special arrow assemblies and/or disassemblyof standard arrows to add weight and/or length.

While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to whichthey address, they are not suitable for giving the archer and/or thebowhunter a fully compatible standards-based way to increase the lengthand/or the weight of the front of their arrow assembly by simplyunscrewing their existing arrowhead from the arrow's insert and screwingthe device of the present disclosure between the two. By having theinternal threads of the device located directly within the outer shankarea of the insert, the strength is increased due to a decrease inleverage, and the overall length of the assembly is kept to a minimum.

In these respects, the AMO standards-based arrow assemblyweight-and-length enhancer according to the present disclosuresubstantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of theprior art and, in doing so, provides an apparatus primarily developedfor the purpose of giving the archer and/or the bowhunter a fullycompatible standards-based way to increase the length and/or the weightof the front of their arrow assemblies.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known prior artregarding arrow weight-and-length boosters, the present disclosureprovides a new AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight and/or lengthenhancer construction wherein the same can be utilized for giving thearcher and/or the bowhunter a fully compatible standards-based way toincrease the length and/or the weight of the front of their arrowassembly by simply unscrewing their existing arrowhead from the arrow'sinsert and screwing the enhancer of the present disclosure between thetwo. By having the internal threads of the device located directlywithin the outer shank area of the insert, the strength is increased dueto a decrease in leverage, and the overall length of the assembly iskept to a minimum.

The general purpose of the enhancer of the present disclosure, whichwill be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a newAMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer that hasmany of the advantages of the arrow weight-and-length boosters mentionedheretofore and many novel features that result in a new AMOstandards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer which is notanticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of theprior art arrow weight-and-length boosters, either alone or in anycombination thereof.

To attain this, the enhancer of the present disclosure generallycomprises a single, one-piece machined part. A cylindrical or taperedcylindrical element has a shank cavity followed by internal 8-32 threadson one end and external 8-32 threads on the other. The outer surface mayor may not have radial grooves cut into it.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the enhancer of the present disclosure in order that thedetailed description thereof may be better understood and in order thatthe present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theenhancer of the present disclosure in detail, it is to be understoodthat the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

A primary object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thatwill overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer forgiving the archer and/or the bowhunter a fully compatiblestandards-based way to increase the length and/or the weight of thefront of their arrow assembly by simply unscrewing their existingarrowhead from the arrow's insert and screwing the enhancer of thepresent disclosure between the two. By having the internal threads ofthe device located directly within the outer shank area of the insert,the strength is increased due to a decrease in leverage, and the overalllength of the assembly is kept to a minimum.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thatadds a precise amount of weight when being screwed into an AMO standardcompliant insert with an arrow assembly without having to modify theexisting arrow assembly.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thatadds a precise amount of length when being screwed into an AMO standardcompliant insert with an arrow assembly without having to modify theexisting arrow assembly.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thataids in arrow penetration due to the kinetic energy of adding weight tothe completed assembly regardless if the arrow is tipped with a huntingbroadhead or a target field tip.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thataids in repeatable arrow flight accuracy due to the added length andforwards added weight of the completed assembly regardless if the arrowis tipped with a hunting broadhead or a target field tip.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thatcan be indefinitely stacked one after the other to allow more than oneto be added to the arrow assembly to increase weight and/or length asdesired or required by the hunter and/or target archer.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thatcreates a smooth aerodynamic transition and taper from a huntingbroadhead or target field point to the arrow shaft that may be larger orsmaller in diameter than the hunting broadhead or target field tipnormally mounted to it.

Another object of the enhancer of the present disclosure is to providean AMO standards-based arrow assembly weight-and-length enhancer thatcan be made in a variety of materials to alter itsweight-to-existing-length characteristics without altering its shape.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentdisclosure will become fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a primary embodiment of the enhancer ofthe present disclosure looking front to rear;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the primary embodiment of the enhancer ofthe present disclosure looking rear to front;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the enhancer showing the internal threadswithin the piloting shank area;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the enhancer of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the enhancer of the present disclosure showinga non-linear, or tapered, outside diameter design; and

FIG. 6 is a side view of the enhancer of the present disclosureassembled to an arrow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the drawings, correspondingreference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate an AMO standards-based arrow assemblyweight-and-length enhancer, shown generally as reference numeral 10,which compromises a single one-piece machined element. Both the primaryembodiment, having a cylindrical profile illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, andthe alternative embodiment, having a tapered or non-linear profile shownin FIG. 5, comprise a shank cavity 12 having internal 8-32 threads 14 ona first end 16 and external 8-32 threads 18 on the opposing end 20. Theouter surface 22 may optionally have grooves 24 cut or formed into it.

In the preferred embodiment, enhancer 10 of the present disclosure is aone-piece, type-3, anodized aluminum alloy that is fully machined fromround stock and has a weight of 25 grains in both the straight and thetapered embodiments. Enhancer 10 comprises at least eleven external 8-32threads 18 at the rear end 20, followed by a nominal locking shank 26.Directly within this shank area 26 is cavity 12, having internal 8-32threads 14. Forward of the shank 26 is the extended insert portion 28.In enhancer 10, the outside diameter of the insert portion 28 may varyin outside diameter from either straight as illustrated in FIG. 3 to atapered shape as illustrated in FIG. 5. The outside diameter of extendedinsert portion 28 optionally has one or more radial grooves 24 cut intoit to facilitate weight control as well as to create an aerodynamicboundary layer.

Within the inside diameter of extended insert portion 28 is a smooth andcentered bore 30 with a short, chamfered lead-in bevel 32. Please note,variations in materials used may alter the mass, and therefore the finalweight of the invention. Variations in tapers and/or outside surfacedimensions may facilitate proper transitions of differing arrow shaftsas well as arrowheads and broadheads. Variations in total length may beemployed depending on the need required by the consumer. Concave orconvex dimples and other aerodynamic surface features may replaceexternal grooves 24 currently illustrated in the present embodiments.Additionally, variations in surface hardening, anodizing processes,colors, as well as all surface treatment procedures, are intended toremain within the scope of the present disclosure.

As previously stated, enhancer 10 of the present disclosure is formedfrom a single, one-piece component and may be manufactured from metal,polymers, and/or composites. It may be cast, partially machined,injection-molded from metal, or a combination therein. The length, aswell as other dimensions, may be altered significantly to greatly alterthe mass of the arrow to be attached to. Variations in size and surfacetaper angles, as well as compound curves in said tapers, mayalternatively be incorporated.

A bowhunter or an archer using an arrowhead or broadhead 40 screwed intoan arrow 42 with a standard threaded insert 44 would simply threadenhancer 10 between the two as illustrated in FIG. 6. The preferredembodiment would give the user the ability to increase the weight andthe length of the arrowhead portion by twenty-five grains and nearlyone-half of an inch. Adding weight to a hunting broadhead increasesdownrange kinetic energy and consequently aids in better penetration tofacilitate a quicker and more humane harvest. Enhancer 10 is asexuallysymmetrical so it can be stacked one after another in conjunction toachieve whatever length and/or weight increase the archer or thebowhunter desires. Enhancer 10 may also be used to help recycle arrowswhich are too short and/or too light to be used by archers andbowhunters that require longer and heavier arrows. Enhancer 10 can alsobe used to alter the FOC (front of center) weight of arrows tofacilitate whatever flight characteristics the user requires.

As to further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of thepresent disclosure, the same should be apparent from the abovedescription and accompanying drawings. With respect to the abovedescription, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensionalrelationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations insize, materials, shape, form, function, manner of operation, assembly,and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in theart, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in thedrawings and described in the specification are intended to beencompassed by the present disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction, dimensions,and operation shown and described and, accordingly, all suitablemodifications and equivalents may be resorted to that fall within thescope of the present disclosure.

1. An enhancer for an arrow, the enhancer comprising: a generallycylindrical first end defining an external thread; a generallycylindrical second end defining an internal cavity; and a shankextending between said external thread of said generally cylindricalfirst end and said generally cylindrical second end, said internalcavity extending into said shank.
 2. The enhancer according to claim 1,wherein said internal cavity comprises an internal thread disposedwithin said shank.
 3. The enhancer according to claim 2, wherein adiameter of said shank is less than a diameter of said generallycylindrical second end.
 4. The enhancer according to claim 3, whereinsaid generally cylindrical end comprises a non-circular cylindrical end.5. The enhancer according to claim 3, wherein said generally cylindricalend comprises a circular cylindrical end.
 6. The enhancer according toclaim 3, wherein said generally cylindrical second end defines at leastone groove extending into said generally cylindrical second end.
 7. Theenhancer according to claim 1, wherein said internal cavity comprises aninternal thread disposed within said shank and a centered bore extendingthrough said generally cylindrical second end from said internal thread.8. The enhancer according to claim 7, wherein said internal cavitycomprises an internal thread disposed within said shank.
 9. The enhanceraccording to claim 8, wherein a diameter of said shank is less than adiameter of said generally cylindrical second end.
 10. The enhanceraccording to claim 9, wherein said generally cylindrical end comprises anon-circular cylindrical end.
 11. The enhancer according to claim 9,wherein said generally cylindrical end comprises a circular cylindricalend.
 12. The enhancer according to claim 9, wherein said generallycylindrical second end defines at least one groove extending into saidgenerally cylindrical second end.
 13. The enhancer according to claim 1,wherein said generally cylindrical end comprises a non-circularcylindrical end.
 14. The enhancer according to claim 13, wherein adiameter of said shank is less than a diameter of said generallycylindrical second end.
 15. The enhancer according to claim 13, whereinsaid internal cavity comprises an internal thread disposed within saidshank.
 16. The enhancer according to claim 1, wherein said generallycylindrical end comprises a circular cylindrical end.
 17. The enhanceraccording to claim 16, wherein a diameter of said shank is less than adiameter of said generally cylindrical second end.
 18. The enhanceraccording to claim 16, wherein said internal cavity comprises aninternal thread disposed within said shank.
 19. The enhancer accordingto claim 1, wherein a diameter of said shank is less than a diameter ofsaid generally cylindrical second end.
 20. The enhancer according toclaim 1, wherein said enhancer is in combination with said arrow andsaid external thread engages an internal thread defined by said arrowand said arrow comprises an arrowhead engaging said internal cavity ofsaid generally cylindrical second end of said enhancer.